sock porn for knitting voyeurs.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

robin hood and the merry train fair

Despite the fact I've been spending my nights in a tank top (shocker!) and shorts (double shocker!) to keep cool, I've started knitting a new wool project...

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Robin Hood jacket (back and two front pieces)
(from Adorable Knits for Tots)
Rowan Cork, sh 040 "delight" (orange)
US 9, 5.5mm 24" Addi
Started: 30 August 2007

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Not just wool, but a bulky chained wool prodded into thick cabling (and a tighter gauge than usually called for). Sure it's a toddler's coat, but still :) I needed a new big project after Hanami, and a combination of acquiring more Cork from Val destashing thru Ravelry and wanting something other than socks has this coat flying off of the needles. Originally (insanely?) I wanted to knit a ball a day and have the knitting done in a week; needing to focus on something else besides nagging reality it was on track til this weekend...

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Checking out the G-scale train layout
Rail Fair 2007, hosted by the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources

A bunch of train buffs set up a range of model trains at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont every year-- they also have rides on a restored 1890's engine, handcars and a small collection of engines and railroad memorabilia. There was lots of things to see trainwise: up close, i wouldn't sunbathe on a coal car, what are her legs doing up in the air like that? While my son found the train exhibitions the most interesting, one of Ardenwood's normal staples caught my attention instead...

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...at Ardenwood they not only raise suffolk and romney sheep, but volunteers like Carol card and spin the wool for one of the ongoing demonstrations of life on the farm. She was a great teacher, answering questions from adults and children alike on how spinning and plying work, offering clean wool to children and finger spinning it with them to show the strength of it once spin has been put into it. Really a fun thing to stumble upon when we went to look for trains :)

...back down the rabbit hole with my heart jacket in hand...


an aside: i know it's not etsy friday yet, but one of my favorite etsy glass artists, LORiOLA.etsy.com, is having a "glass in my eye" sale in her shop. just fyi :)

12 comments:

Opal said...

Oh the cables! I love the cables!

lexa said...

The new jacket looks gorgeous! Orangey and cabled -- can't get much better than that. Wouldn't my oldest love those trains! He was amazed driving through Ontario and the Prairies seeing all the real trains chugging along.

Kirsten said...

Ooooooo so much cable-y, orange-y goodness, I want one in my size!!!

adrienne said...

Oh, I love the sweater so far! It reminds me of a cardigan I had in high school (but mine was obnoxiously bright...) :)

Kristine said...

adorable sweater. too cute.

insaknitty said...

omg! I didn't know they had a model train thing at ardenwood...! my daughter loves trains. these days, we go to trader joe's to see the train over the cheese section. anyway! I'll have to head down there next year, I guess. how fun! oh, also, the sweater looks amazing. I made the same pattern for my friend's son! :)

Anonymous said...

Ooh, I love that close up of the cables.

My father-in-law is a big big model train guy. He built a huge set-up in his back yard when his kids were young and could help him with it. Now, he's got a smaller one that goes around the bushes in front of their house. The grandkids love it!

I think his is G scale too.

Stacey said...

cables, cork and orange - my favorite combination! that has to be the best color of cork out there!

funny how you never know where you will find spinning - even with trains!

Kyle William said...

yikes you're a quick knitter - making me fall in love with cables... ooh to try a cabled cardigan with my unfocused mind!

Chris said...

Oh baby, look at those cables pop. Yum.

WandaWoman said...

You're off to a great start with the Robin Hood jacket. The orange is wonderful. I really enjoyed working with Cork. Such a nice yarn. A pity it's discontinued.

Courtney said...

Love the cables, very pretty :-) good luck on knitting 1 ball a day :-) My big project right now is the hemlockring blanket from Brooklyn Tweed's blog :-) Happy kniting

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